In order to safeguard the interests of the genuine drug manufacturers of the country and to counter the entry of counterfeit drugs into the market, the sub-committee of Drug Consultative Committee (DCC), constituted by the drug controller general of India (DCGI), has decided to recommend to adopt a unique ID and bar coding for all the pharma products in India, it is learnt.  

The DCC sub-committee will soon submit its recommendation to the  DCGI for adopting this unique ID and bar coding on the pharma products across India after due diligence so as to safeguard the interests of the genuine drug manufacturers of the country. This move is expected to bring a check on the entry of counterfeit drugs into the market which is spoiling the reputation of the country and genuine manufacturer-exporters of pharmaceutical products, sources said.

This decision was taken by the sub-committee members H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat Food & Drugs Control Administration, (FDCA), Salim Veljee, director, Goa, Foods and Drugs Control Administration, Dr Jagshetty, Karnataka Drugs Controller, M Bhaskaran, Tamil Nadu Drugs Controller at a recent meeting that was held in Gujarat on January 19. Malai Mitra who convened the meeting will be submitting the report to the DCGI shortly.

The committee was set up with a view to gauge the situation in the country with regard to counterfeit drugs and get a clear picture of it so that required steps can be taken in favour of implementation of computerisation of drug distribution system up to retail stage. The meeting held at the Gujarat FDCA's office discussed about the benefits of implementing unique ID and bar coding and its effectiveness in rooting out the menace of spurious drugs.

A source closely associated with the whole process informed that the committee has decided to go with the unique ID and bar coding since they came in to the conclusion that implementation of this technology will help in detection of spurious drugs efficiently and effectively. Thus it is expected that the country will be able to deal with the menace of spurious and fraudulent drugs in an organised manner and help deal with this problem.

Once the DCGI secures the nod of the DCC, the DCGI's office will further initiate a dialogue with the stakeholders to get their opinion on the same. Source informed that the DCC subcommittee has come into consensus on adopting unique ID and bar coding after enough consideration and deliberation. It was equivocally agreed by all that considering the present scenario, it was best to have unique ID and bar coding on all pharma products since it stands out to the best technology available in the war against counterfeit.